So far we have crossed the borders of California, Colorado, Michigan, Ontario (Canada), New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and today we will be crossing into Florida. As you travel further south, you do sense a change mainly from the styles of houses in the neighborhoods and of course the accents.
The main reasons for coming down here were to see a couple of the most visited national parks in the states: Shenandoah National Park and Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Both parks have controversial histories in that many native and non native people were displaced or of the park areas before the parks were created. The Cherokees still have a reservation near the parks. Smokey Mountains is the most visited Park with 10 million visitors every year. The Grand Canyon has the next most visitors with a mere 5 million annually.
Highlights:
Both parks present stunning views of surrounding valleys and 'smoky' mountains. We even saw a black bear and plenty of deer.
Clingmans Dome: the highest viewing platform in Great Smoky presents 360 degree views but you're made to work for it with a fairly steep half mile walk up to it.
Fire flies apparently only light up two weeks of the year in the smokies and we just happened to be here at the right time. Looking across a field at dusk we could see a continuous spattering of streaky sparks all around us. A truly special sight.
No comments:
Post a Comment